From the comments section: Analyzing online public discourse on the first 2020 presidential debate

This study explores the analysis of public reactions to presidential debates using a largely untapped social media data source—YouTube comments. My findings reveal a striking consistency in topics across YouTube channels, pointing to a shared perspective among viewers that goes beyond ideological di...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inResearch & politics Vol. 11; no. 3
Main Author Eaton, John
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London, England SAGE Publications 01.07.2024
SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
SAGE Publishing
Subjects
Data
Debates
Internet
Mass media
Presidential elections
Presidents
Social media
Presidential debates
2020 election
public opinion
content analysis
selective exposure
social media analysis
Online AccessGet full text

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Summary:This study explores the analysis of public reactions to presidential debates using a largely untapped social media data source—YouTube comments. My findings reveal a striking consistency in topics across YouTube channels, pointing to a shared perspective among viewers that goes beyond ideological differences. These results question the assumption that online behavior mirrors traditional media preferences, suggesting that viewers may not apply ideological biases in their selection of YouTube content, instead influenced by accessibility or algorithmic recommendations. My findings also highlight the potential of leveraging social media for identifying significant voter issues and concerns. Lastly, I highlight the distinctive nature of YouTube data and the potential of researchers to utilize it, especially in light of the limited availability of Twitter data.
ISSN:2053-1680
2053-1680
DOI:10.1177/20531680241271758